In August of the current year, a rotation of Kazakhstani officers took place within the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (CAR). Two military personnel replaced their colleagues and embarked on a mission to safeguard the civilian population in alignment with the objectives of the peacekeeping initiative. One of the returning officers, Lieutenant Colonel Rustem Suleimenov, shared insights with Sarbaz.kz regarding his twelve-month engagement in CAR.
Current Situation in the Central African Republic
The Central African Republic has been grappling with intermittent civil conflict for nearly six decades. Its status shifted from being a French colony in 1960, marking the onset of a series of coup d'états. Presently, the ruling authority controls only a fraction of the nation's territory, while over fifteen distinct factions operate across the remaining expanse, vying for control of its abundant natural resources. Despite its status as one of the world's poorest countries, the Central African Republic is endowed with significant reserves of oil, gold, diamonds, and uranium. The UN's peacekeeping contingent, colloquially known as the "blue helmets," operates within CAR, and includes Kazakhstani participation.
Source: the personal photo archive of R. Suleimenov
Kazakhstan's UN Peacekeeping Endeavor
Kazakhstan's involvement in UN peacekeeping endeavors commenced in the year 2000, with the establishment of a Kazakhstani peacekeeping battalion through a Presidential decree. Officers from the Kazakhstani Armed Forces can be deployed as military observers and staff officers to regions including the Middle East, Cyprus, India, Pakistan, Lebanon, Western Sahara, and the Central African Republic.
Fundamental tenets underpinning the peacekeepers' mission encompass adherence to legality, observance of international norms, impartiality and neutrality, as well as respect for local customs and traditions.
Source: the personal photo archive of R. Suleimenov
The Role of a Kazakhstani Peacekeeper
During the summer of 2022, two Kazakhstani military personnel embarked on their inaugural mission to the Central African Republic as part of the peacekeeping endeavor. Among them, Lieutenant Colonel Rustem Suleimenov, an alumnus of the Military Institute of Land Forces in Almaty. His career spanned from platoon leader to company commander within the "Kazbat" peacekeeping battalion, serving as a senior staff officer for the Airborne Assault Troops. Following training at the Center for Peacekeeping Operations, he was dispatched as a military observer to Côte d'Ivoire in 2015. After completing his mission, he assumed the role of an instructor at the Ministry of Defense's Center for Peacekeeping Operations. Subsequent to attending UN staff officer courses, Lieutenant Colonel Suleimenov was deployed as a staff officer to the Central African Republic as part of the peacekeeping mission. Currently, he holds the position of Chief of Peacekeeping Training at the Center for Peacekeeping Operations.
Source: the personal photo archive of R. Suleimenov
Core Activities of Peacekeepers in the CAR
Within the context of the peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic, two Kazakhstani officers have been engaged in activities aimed at stabilizing the situation. These officers have monitored the activities of local inhabitants from the main headquarters of the "Eastern" sector, tracking the movement of unlawful armed formations within designated zones of responsibility. Additionally, aerial patrols have been conducted to identify areas of local inhabitant congregation, with thorough site inspections conducted to cross-reference data against topographical maps. At times, the discovery of encampments belonging to unauthorized armed factions has been made.
Source: the personal photo archive of R. Suleimenov
Continued Engagement in the Central African Republic
In early August, Kazakhstani officers embarked on their mission to the Central African Republic, in line with the tasks assigned by the peacekeeping mission. Presently, the overall situation in the Central African Republic remains relatively calm. However, according to mission reports, the context remains unpredictable in certain regions due to the tense environment amidst the republic's presidential elections.
Source: the personal photo archive of R. Suleimenov
